South Australia

Tasmania

Gold Coast Hinterland

Overview

This Gold Coast Hinterland area is the largest area of protected subtropical rainforest in the world, with sizeable areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of Australia’s remaining cool temperate rainforest. Massive Strangler Figs, ancient Antarctic Beech, Red Cedar, Rosewood and Booyongs tower overhead whilst hundreds of different species of palms, vines, ferns and orchids flourish beneath. This is Gondwana Rainforest at its very best.

We start the trail in the Springbrook National Park, traversing a prehistoric landscape which links the World Heritage-listed Lamington and Springbrook plateaus. We have selected the most scenic Gold Coast walks through this unspoilt rainforest, tracks that pass numerous cascading streams and towering waterfalls, tracks that crisscross creeks and present you with the most beautiful locations to bask, eat lunch and simply just relax.

The walking is mesmerising up here, with peaks reaching over 1100m and the steep untracked southern edge forms an impressive natural border with the state of NSW. Highlights include walking the volcano rim, doing the Treetops walk and climbing the huge Strangler Fig tower.

With two guides to look after you on this Gold Coast walk, there will be the opportunity to shorten some of the walking days for those who wish. The lodgings are world class and make up an essential part of this incomparable journey. The views from both the Sky Lodges and O’Reilly’s are an amazing parenthesis to each day of walking.

Trip Length

Days

From

$

per person twin/double share

Single Supplement

$695

per person

Single Supplement

Australian hotel accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there is one or two people occupying it.

In order to cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single supplement fee, a cost that we make no margin on.

DAY 1

This trip starts at the Gold Coast airport (Coolangatta) at 9:30am. Travel to Binna Burra stopping in Springbrook National Park along the way. The Gold Coast hikes start with a delightful circuit walk high on the plateau through fragrant forests of New England ash and ancient lepidozamias to spectacular Purling Brook Falls. On the way to Binna Burra we do shorts walks at various lookouts on the way.

Walking: Easy / 5 km / 2 hrs

Meals: Lunch at a local cafe and three course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant.

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 2

You will have a choice of two circuit walks today of varying difficulties. Both circuits will pass through several vegetation types. Waterfalls are also aplenty today on either circuit choice. Tracks crisscross rainforest creeks for much of the day and pass many waterfalls. But it’s the forest that will leave you spellbound with some the biggest trees seen anywhere in Australia among other things.

DAY 3

Today we will walk on the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and head down into the Numinbah Valley. The track takes you to the remote eastern escarpment for great views into the valley. There’s a good chance that the striking black and yellow Regent Bowerbird will appear. In the evening, Red-necked Pademelons, possums and Sugar Gliders are commonly seen around the lodges.

DAY 4

Full day Lamington Traverse. Walk across the rainforest plateau on the Border Track to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – at 22 km it’s a long way but the route is reasonably flat and the going is easy. The track emerges from the subtropical rainforest at several panoramic escarpment lookouts along the way. The forest is a mysterious melting pot of fauna and flora and largely an untouched environment with new plants being found, classified and named even today. Outstanding bird life like the striking Regent Bowerbird and more than 160 species of other sub-tropical birds will keep everyone engrossed. Many of them are easy to see and unafraid of people.

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 5

This morning there will be an option to start your day off with a bird walk guided by a local expert. Both Gold Coast walks take us through lush sub-tropical rainforest with impressive stands of brush box and piccabeen palms. You will find yourself surrounded by the giants of the forest with waterfalls a plenty. Finish the day with a soak in the heated outdoor spa pool. Get up close to a 3000-year-old tree. These ancient Antarctic Beeches provide evidence of Australia’s beginnings when it was connected to the Antarctic as part of the Gondwanaland super-continent. There is even a palm forest in the middle of this rainforest.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 6 hrs / shorter option either 5 or 10 km

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant, walkers lunch and three course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 6

After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to climb the giant fig tree and explore the different levels of the rainforest on the Tree Tops Walk before travelling back to the Gold Coast arriving around 1.00pm.

Walking: Easy / 2 km / 1 hr

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant

Walk Grading

These Gold Coast hikes and the Gold Coast Hinterland Great walk are well graded and mostly easy to negotiate. Full day walks average about 16 km. There are opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves on some of the days with rather lengthy walks of up to 23 km.

*Walk grading and map are not to scale and indicative only.

Walking Track

Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday

The best of the Gold Coast hikes and the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk

2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides

5 nights’ comfortable ensuited accommodation

Chef prepared cooked breakfasts, two and three course dinners and comprehensive walkers lunches

All transport from Coolangatta (Gold Coast), including all luggage transport

National Parks admission

Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, lunch bag and container

You will be fully supported when walking these Gold Coast hikes staying in two luxurious accommodations. The first is best described as 5-star luxury, the Sky Lodges at Binna Burra. The Sky Lodges have two or three bedrooms (each with their own ensuite bathroom) and large communal living areas which open up to a spacious decking area overlooking the Coomera & Numinbah Valleys. The rooms with the view will be allocated to the bookings that are received first. You can view a floor plan for the three-bedroom Sky Lodge here. Then it’s on to O’Reilly’s where we experience a different kind of luxury, in the form of a much more rustic feel but with similar incredible views

The dinners are three courses prepared by the chef at the lodge and retreat restaurants with a focus on local fresh organic produce. Every day you will wake to a cooked breakfast in the restaurant to ready yourself for the upcoming days walk. You’ll lunch at incredible locations. Indeed, the walkers lunches complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always kept satisfied. Our walkers lunches are substantial; we provide you with your own insulated lunch bag, ice pack and a silicone collapsible tub for your convenience. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s famous trail mix.

Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

The Gold Coast walks we have handpicked including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk are mostly easily passable and in the most part the tracks are well graded. There are some opportunities for keen walkers to challenge themselves but in the main the walks are all moderate, bar the Border Track which is moderate to challenging. This trip operates with two knowledgeable engaging guides so we can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.

Pre and post tour accommodation: There are many good hotels in the Gold Coast, however we pick up and drop off at one central accommodation, Calypso Plaza, 99 Griffith Street.. The tour starts at the Calypso at 9.00am or 9.30am at Coolangatta airport. We arrive at approximately 1.00pm back to the Gold Coast.

We like the late winter/early spring months as there is low humidity and the temperature is usually very pleasant for walking. See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy as we charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your Auswalk holiday after we have confirmed it. There is a 30% discount with QBE on travel insurance booked via our website. Get an instant quote and purchase online now.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

REQUEST TO BOOK

Submitting this completed form along with your deposit is a tentative booking only.

Please do not book flights until receiving a confirmation from Auswalk